Justin and Libby Denbe have the kind of life you’d find in the pages of a glossy magazine: A beautiful 14-year-old daughter. A gorgeous brownstone on a tree-lined street in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood. A great marriage, admired by all. A perfect life. When investigator Tessa Leone arrives at the crime scene in the foyer of the Denbes’ home, she finds scuff marks on the floor and a million tiny pieces of bright green Taser confetti. The family appears to have been abducted.

The Witness [Brilliance Audio Edition]

Daughter of a cold, controlling mother and an anonymous donor, studious, obedient Elizabeth finally let loose one night, drinking too much at a nightclub and allowing a strange man’s seductive Russian accent to lure her to a house on Lake Shore Drive. The events that followed changed her life forever. Twelve years later, the woman now known as Abigail Lowery lives alone on the outskirts of a small town in the Ozarks. A freelance programmer, she works at home designing sophisticated security systems.

Hold Tight

Tia and Mike Baye never imagined they'd become the type of overprotective parents who spy on their kids. But their 16-year-old son, Adam, has been unusually distant lately, and after the suicide of his classmate, Spencer Hill they can't help but worry. They install a sophisticated spy program on Adam's computer, and within days they are jolted by a message from an unknown correspondent addressed to their son: "Just stay quiet and all safe."

Meanwhile, Betsy Hill is struck by a photo that appears to have been taken on the night of her son's death...and he wasn't alone.

Fallen

There's no police training stronger than a cop's instinct. Faith Mitchell's mother isn't answering her phone. Her front door is open. There's a bloodstain above the knob. Her infant daughter is hidden in a shed behind the house. All that the Georgia Bureau of Investigations taught Faith Mitchell goes out the window when she charges into her mother's house, gun drawn. She sees a man dead in the laundry room. She sees a hostage situation in the bedroom. What she doesn't see is her mother.

Love You More: A Novel

One question, a split-second decision, and Brian Darby lies dead on the kitchen floor. His wife, state police trooper Tessa Leoni, claims to have shot him in self-defense, and bears the bruises to back up her tale. For veteran detective D. D. Warren it should be an open-and-shut case. But where is their six-year-old daughter? As the homicide investigation ratchets into a frantic statewide search for a missing child, D. D. Warren must partner with former lover Bobby Dodge to break through the blue wall of police brotherhood, seeking to understand the inner workings of a trooper’s mind while also unearthing family secrets.

The Poet

Our hero is Jack McEvoy, a Rocky Mountain News crime-beat reporter. As the story opens, Jack's twin brother, a Denver homicide detective, has just killed himself. Or so it seems. But when Jack begins to investigate the phenomenon of police suicides, a disturbing pattern emerges, and soon suspects that a serial murderer is at work.

Blood Memory

Catherine "Cat" Ferry is a forensic odontologist, a specialist in bite marks and the clues they provide. But while Cat's colleagues know her as a world-class scientist, she secretly attempts to manage her fragile psyche with alcohol, delving into the minds of rapists and murderers yet never allowing her own frightening past to creep into the foreground.

Dark Summer

Devon Brady is a veterinarian working in a makeshift hospital at an island search and rescue site. When Jude Marrok arrives with his wounded black lab, she has no idea that she is about to be plunged into a whirlwind of terror, destruction, and passion. The last thing Devon needs is to be drawn into Marrok's high-stakes game. And while she feels increasingly drawn to him, she doesn't trust him. Is Jude her salvation or her damnation? Are the secrets he's protecting worth killing for?

You're Next

Mike Wingate had a rough childhood — he was abandoned at a playground at four years old and raised in foster care. No one ever came to claim him, and he has only a few, fragmented memories of his parents. Now, as an adult, Mike is finally living the life he had always wanted — he’s happily married to Annabel, the woman of his dreams; they have a precocious eight-year-old daughter, Kat.

Crash & Burn

Nicole Frank shouldn't have been able to survive the car accident, much less crawl up the steep ravine. Not in the dark, not in the rain, not with her injuries. But one thought allows her to defy the odds and flag down help: Vero.

Die Again: Rizzoli & Isles

Boston Detective Jane Rizzoli is on the case of a big game hunter found dead in his apartment, alone with the body of a beautiful white snow leopard he had recently been commissioned to procure and stuff for a high-profile museum in the area. Medical examiner Maura Isles connects the case to a number of seemingly unrelated deaths where the victims have all been found hanging upside down, the hallmark of a leopard's kill.

Catch Me: A Novel

Charlene Rosalind Carter Grant believes that she will be murdered in four days. And she wants Boston’s top detective to handle her death investigation. It will be up close and personal. No evidence of forced entry, no sign of struggle. Charlie tells a chilling story: Each year at 8:00 p.m. on January 21, a woman has died. The victims have been childhood best friends from a small town in New Hampshire; the motive remains unknown. Now only one friend, Charlie, remains to count down her final hours.

The Final Cut: A Brit in the FBI, Book 1

Scotland Yard’s new chief inspector Nicholas Drummond is on the first flight to New York when he learns his colleague, Elaine York, the "minder" of the Crown Jewels for the "Jewel of the Lion" exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was found murdered. Then the centerpiece of the exhibit, the infamous Koh-i-Noor Diamond, is stolen from the Queen Mother’s crown. Drummond, American-born but raised in the UK, is a dark, dangerous, fast-rising star in the Yard who never backs down. And this case is no exception.

Plum Island

Wounded in the line of duty, NYPD homicide cop John Corey is convalescing in rural eastern Long Island when an attractive young couple he knows is found shot to death on the family patio. The victims were biologists at Plum Island, a research site rumored to be an incubator for germ warfare. Suddenly, a local double murder takes on shattering global implications - and thrusts Corey and two extraordinary women into a dangerous search for the secret of Plum Island....

Slow Heat in Heaven

The adopted daughter of the most powerful man in town, Schyler Crandall left Heaven, Louisiana, a brokenhearted girl. Now a crisis has brought her home to a family in conflict, a logging empire on the brink of disaster, and seething secrets that make Heaven hotter than hell.

The Bone House

Hilary and Mark Bradley are trapped in a web of suspicion. Last year, accusations of a torrid affair with a student cost Mark his teaching job and made the young couple into outcasts in their remote island town off the Lake Michigan coast. Now another teenage girl is found dead on a deserted beach... and once again, Mark faces a hostile town convinced of his guilt. Hilary Bradley is determined to prove that Mark is innocent, but she’s on a lonely, dangerous quest.

Killing Floor

All is not well in Margrave, Georgia. The sleepy, forgotten town hasn't seen a crime in decades, but within the span of three days it witnesses events that leave everyone stunned. An unidentified man is found beaten and shot to death on a lonely country road.

My Sister's Grave

Tracy Crosswhite has spent 20 years questioning the facts surrounding her sister Sarah’s disappearance and the murder trial that followed. She doesn’t believe that Edmund House - a convicted rapist and the man condemned for Sarah’s murder - is the guilty party. Motivated by the opportunity to obtain real justice, Tracy became a homicide detective with the Seattle PD and dedicated her life to tracking down killers.

Alone

As a sniper with the elite Massachusetts State Police SWAT Team, Bobby Dodge saved a woman and her young son by shooting her armed husband. But vicious rumors begin to circulate the next morning when Bobby loses his gun and his privileges. It turns out the dead man was the son of a prominent Boston judge and had accused his wife of poisoning their son.

Hide

It was a case that haunts Bobby Dodge to this day - the case that nearly killed him and changed his life forever. Now, the gruesome discovery of six mummified corpses resurrects his worst nightmare: the return of a killer he thought dead and buried.

Fear Nothing: Detective D. D. Warren, Book 7

The last thing Boston Detective D. D. Warren remembers is walking the crime scene after dark. Then, a creaking floorboard, a low voice crooning in her ear… She is later told she managed to discharge her weapon three times. All she knows is that she is seriously injured, unable to move her left arm, unable to return to work. My sister is Shana Day, a notorious murderer who first killed at fourteen. Incarcerated for thirty years, she has now murdered more people while in prison than she did as a free woman.

The Neighbor: A Detective D. D. Warren Novel

It was a case guaranteed to spark a media feeding frenzy: a young mother, blond and pretty, disappears without a trace from her South Boston home, leaving behind her four-year-old daughter as the only witness and her handsome, secretive husband as the prime suspect. But from the moment Detective Sergeant D. D. Warren arrives at the Joneses - a snug little bungalow, she senses something off about the picture of wholesome normality the couple worked so hard to create.

Live to Tell: A Detective D. D. Warren Novel

On a warm summer night in one of Boston’s working-class neighborhoods, an unthinkable crime has been committed: Four members of a family have been brutally murdered. The father—and possible suspect—now lies clinging to life in the ICU. Murder-suicide? Or something worse? Veteran police detective D. D. Warren is certain of only one thing: There’s more to this case than meets the eye.

The Survivors Club

The rapist left an indelible mark on their lives; now three women must live with the consequences of his violent brutality. But when he's murdered on his way to trial, the police investigation takes a scorching new focus. All three women had a reason to hate him. All three wanted him dead. But which one of them murdered him? Explosively plotted and unnervingly suspenseful, The Survivors Club sizzles from beginning to end.

Summer of Night

It’s the summer of 1960 and in the small town of Elm Haven, Illinois, five twelve-year-old boys are forging the powerful bonds that a lifetime of change will not break. From sunset bike rides to shaded hiding places in the woods, the boys’ days are marked by all of the secrets and silences of an idyllic childhood. But amid the sun-drenched cornfields, their loyalty will be pitilessly tested.

Publisher's Summary

This is my family: Vanished without a trace....

Justin and Libby Denbe have the kind of life you’d find in the pages of a glossy magazine: A beautiful 14-year-old daughter. A gorgeous brownstone on a tree-lined street in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood. A great marriage, admired by all. A perfect life.

This is what I know: Pain has a flavor....

When investigator Tessa Leone arrives at the crime scene in the foyer of the Denbes’ home, she finds scuff marks on the floor and a million tiny pieces of bright green Taser confetti. The family appears to have been abducted, with only a pile of their cell phones and electronic devices remaining. No witnesses, no ransom demands, no motive. Just a perfect little family, gone.

This is what I fear: The worst is yet to come....

Tessa knows better than anyone that flawless fronts can hide the darkest secrets. Now she must race against the clock to uncover the Denbes’ innermost dealings, a complex tangle of friendships and betrayal, big business and small sacrifices. Who would want to kidnap such a perfect little family? And how far would such a person be willing to go?

No, the narrator's attempts to do the male voices were strained. They should have used a male to co-narrate given all the male parts. Her female voices were just as strained and way too exaggerated.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

A bit way too predictable to be interesting. The least interesting aspect was all the played out ridiculous family drama released in the middle of a hostage crisis. It was more like a page from a teen diary or a lonely pill popping housewife drama than anything. Way too much detailed description about meaningless subjects.

I value reviews, suggestions, lists, even *best of* and *must reads*, but I rarely read a book because I think should--I read because (probably like you) I love to read, I love books--sometimes even stinkers find in me a soft spot. I consume 3-4 a week including, textbooks, Kindle, and Audio, so I pursue high recommendations from my fellow readers, sometimes even when they are out of my usual preference zone. I've previously only read 1 Gardner novel, again highly recommended by Audible reviewers - who seem to really love this author. Myself, I put Gardner in my *Not-that-there's-anything-wrong-with-that* category...books to grab in the gift shop or bookstore when you are on the go; books that are easy to pick up and get lost in, easy to put down, easy to pick back up (easy to leave on the plane)--nothing negative, nothing wrong with that.

This had a similar feeling to the previous Gardner book I read, quick paced, sensational, and overall was entertaining on a mindless level. I guess the full-five-star reviews are all in context to what others have read before. For me, I thought some of the reviews overly generous. Touch & Go is not a great original thriller; the writing is average, the plot comparable to a good TV mystery or 20/20 spot; you won't remember it next month...like I said, not that there's anything wrong with that. The 2 books of Gardner's that I've now read were okay, but this will probably be my last--unless I forget a book on my next business trip and need to pick one up in the airport.

We've all read/listened to books in which a seemingly perfect family has a crisis, which causes lots of secrets to unravel. This is NOT one of those books! Well, yes, I guess it is, but with carefully developed characters and a complex plot line that is unlike anything in this genre I have ever read. Some of the bad guys commit heroic acts. Some of the good guys commit unforgivable acts. The story could have come to a conclusion several times and still have been satisfying, but Lisa Garder milked every ounce of drama she could out of the situation. There are a number of pivotal characters, so pay attention at the beginning: You'll need the information before it's over! Elisabeth Rodgers does a fine job of switching between the first person narration of Libby and the third person objective story-telling with dialogue of everyone else. A really compelling experience!

DD Warren was not a main character. That being said, the law enforcement characters were all interesting and likable. Even some of the villains were likable. I enjoyed the book. I reserve 4 stars and 5 stars for what I think are in my humble opinion excellent, top notch, edge of my seat, can't put them down books. This was not in that category, but it was entertaining.

WOW... I loved this book! I would liked to have tweaked the ending just a little bit, but it was still very satisfying. This was my first listen by both the author and the narrator, and they both really impressed me. It was definitely worth the credit. Bravo!!!

This is a kidnapping story that involves better police work than the mystery requires. First, I liked the two main law enforcement characters a lot and never thought of not finishing the novel. That immediately qualifies it a 3 star novel, though with its drawbacks I'd give it 2.5 if I could.

Close to half the novel is told in the first person of the kidnapped wife whose husband and daughter are also kidnapped with her. I found her extremely unattractive and droll. In fact, I found her husband an daughter's characters extremely under developed, to the point none of their actions made sense to me.

The narration was excellent with exception to two of the kidnappers, Elisabeth Rodgers had trouble with their gruffness.

This was a complicated mystery that I feel called for far more detail and in depth characters than the author was willing to provide. I was certain of the outcome early on, but finished just to be sure.

I enjoyed this book, but perhaps my expectations were a little high based on the reviews. I thought the plot and most especially the ending were somewhat predictable. I enjoyed the listen and thought the narrator did a good job in helping to keep the story engaging. I think I had it in my mind that this was another "Gone Girl" type novel, and it doesn't even begin to compare.

An easy listen while cleaning, but not one I am going to recommend to others.

This is my second book by Lisa Gardner and even though the were both part of different series they both could stand alone. This story was about the owner of a 100 million dollar business and how he, his wife and his daughter were abducted from their very secure, upperclass home, leaving virtually no evidence to follow. The board of his company hires an independent investigator and she starts to gather information while trying to work with the local PD and the FBI, who can be less than helpful to a private entity. When there is a break in the case and they find a locator jacket that the man was wearing, layers of the suspects deception start to unravel.

The owner has a reputation with the ladies, the wife has a drug addiction and the daughter has a deep secret that if discovered will tear everything apart. When there is no ransom demand the investigators start to wonder if this is a rescue or recovery mission. Many suspects with different motives make it hard to dig through what is and isn't relative to the abduction.

The continuous story changes kept me guessing until the end. A great, action packed suspense drama that will bring me back to more of Lisa Gardner's mystery thrillers and the great narration of Elizabeth Rodgers.

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